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WATCH: Ore. Republican's Campaign Ad Makes Gay History

WATCH: Ore. Republican's Campaign Ad Makes Gay History

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The first congressional candidate to feature a same-sex couple in her campaign might surprise you -- because she's a Republican.

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A candidate for U.S. Senate in Oregon made history Tuesday by airing the first campaign ad for national office featuring a same-sex couple, reports Politico.

What makes the ad even more noteworthy is that the candidate it promotes is a Republican.

Monica Wehby is hoping Oregon voters will send her to Washington in November, removing junior Democratic incumbent senator Jeff Merkley. And to help make her case, the pediatric neurosurgeon enlisted a newly married gay man to tout her credentials, highlighting her support for marriage equality.

That man -- Portland resident Ben West -- also happens to be one half of the couple that successfully sued to overturn Oregon's ban on same-sex marriage. As a result of the case that West and his husband, Paul Rummell, filed, Oregon embraced marriage equality in May after a federal judge struck down the ban and the state's current leadership refused to appeal the ruling.

Politico reports that West initially cold-called Wehby's campaign office and wound up with an invitation to have drinks and appetizers with Wehby. West told Politico that he is a Republican who "has often crossed over to vote Democratic," while his husband, Rummell, "is a lifelong Democrat, but he's come to admire Wehby and backs her too."

Find out more about why West supports Wehby in the campaign ad below.

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Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.
Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.